General surgery at Circle Reading Hospital

Our general surgery team is led by many of the leading consultants in the UK and provides initial consultations with no waiting lists, as well as immediate diagnostics and treatment options. Due to our expert team, we are able to offer the full spectrum of surgical options for numerous problems including:

Abdominal pain

Weight problems

Tumours

Thyroid dysfunction

Peripheral vascular disease

Our general surgery clinics and operating theatres are set in Circle Health’s clean and modern hospital environment. Our specialist anaesthetists and wider allied health team, such as specialist nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and dieticians, are able to offer significant expertise in post-operative care.

Our unit also has close links with other departments including endocrinology, oncology and therapies, ensuring we can deliver the full breadth of medical management required.

Our general surgery team strive to give our patients a unique understanding of their condition and management options as well as full control over their condition, with follow-up appointments scheduled to check on their progress following any treatment.

General surgery is a surgical specialty which covers an extremely wide range of sub-specialties and procedures.

A great deal of complaints managed by a general surgeon will include abdominal pain and the surgical treatment of medical conditions which affect the abdominal organs which can include:

Appendectomy

Hernia repair surgery

Gallbladder removal

The majority of abdominal operations are done via a laparoscopy (keyhole technique), reducing the risk of infection and pain levels post-operatively.

Most general surgeons also have area/s of specific expertise within this specialty. Some of the more common areas of sub-specialty include:

Vascular surgery – Operations to place stents into artery’s affected with blockages, known as an angioplasty, or surgical bypasses for blocked arteries are the most commonly performed.

Endocrine surgery – Partial and full removal of the thyroid gland can be performed by general surgeons specialising in this area for individuals suffering with benign or malignant masses, or medical problems affecting their thyroid function.

Gastroenterological surgery – A number of operations to achieve weight loss can be performed. These may include surgery to restrict the amount of food ingested as well as surgery to reduce the amount of nutrients gained from the food.

Due to the breadth of disorders treated within a general surgical unit, patients will also receive significant input from specialist nurses, dieticians and other allied health professionals as required.

Initial consultation

Depending on your symptoms, our administrative team will book you an appointment with the most suitable general surgeon.

At your initial consultation they will aim to get an in-depth understanding of your specific symptoms, enabling them to request the most appropriate diagnostics. This will involve a lengthy interview and a physical examination relevant to the specific body area of pain and your symptoms.

When suffering abdominal pain, a physical examination may involve a manual examination of the structures of the abdomen in which our consultants will observe areas of swelling or tenderness.

For examination of abdominal pain and any possible colorectal disorders, our surgeons may also conduct an examination of the rectum and lower part of the colon using a device known as a rigid sigmoidoscopy. This is a small device that is inserted in to the colon and uses a light to allow a colorectal surgeon to examine the area.

For individuals suffering with obesity and looking for a surgical solution, our unit will look to get baseline measures of general health such as height, weight and some cardiovascular tests.

Vascular examinations may involve an observation of the skin condition, including colour changes, temperature changes and any areas of skin breakdown. There will also be an examination of the strength of the pulses. Our experts may also conduct a series of blood pressure tests in the limbs.

State-of-the-art diagnostics available for you

Our consultants will request a range of different tests to plan the most effective treatment options for you. Depending on your exact symptoms diagnostics tests may include:

General surgery encompasses a wide area of medicine and our department is led by surgeons from the full breadth of sub-specialties within this area. This means Circle Health are able to offer all of the latest surgical techniques available to treat medical problems affecting the abdomen, endocrine system, gastrointestinal system and much more.

Whether you have been referred by your general practitioner, another specialty at Circle Hospital or you have made a self-referral to our general surgery unit, you will undergo an in-depth initial assessment from one of our experienced consultants.

Furthermore, Circle Hospitals are able to offer appointments at short notice and with flexible, convenient times with our leading experts. Relevant diagnostic procedures such as CT, MRI scans, sigmoidoscopy’s and colonoscopy’s may be booked immediately following your initial or follow-up consultation.

Peace of mind for you

We appreciate that undergoing necessary diagnostic interventions and complex surgery can be a stressful experience. Circle Health plans and carries out thousands of appointments and medical interventions each week.

Based on this experience, we have developed an excellence in both clinical and non-clinical care in order to relieve your worries and to allow streamlined patient journeys from appointments to diagnostics, treatments and any onward referrals to other specialties.

Ongoing investment to ensure optimal outcomes

General surgery is a diverse and often highly complex area when it comes to the surgical techniques needed. Much of the surgery offered relies on minimally-invasive laparoscopic (keyhole) procedures and specific techniques are constantly evolving. Circle Health continues to invest in and utilise the very latest technology and surgical instrumentation, enabling us to provide the very best outcomes for patients from these complex surgical procedures

Not only is our general surgery clinical care second to none, your treatment will be conducted in a modern, clean facility which you are able to feel comfortable in throughout your treatment.

Fast track your treatment

Just enter your details below and we'll ring you to provide a quote or answer your questions. We will use your personal information to process your enquiry and contact you with relevant information. For further information, please see our website privacy policy.